PARISH
History of the Mentone-Parkdale Parish
The Parish of Mentone was created in 1904, when the area encompassing Mentone, Parkdale, Cheltenham, Highett, Beaumaris, Sandringham, Mordialloc, Edithvale, and Chelsea was cut off from the “Brighton Mission”, which was ministered by priests residing in the present Parish of St James Gardenvale.
Over the course of the ensuing years as areas developed, areas of the parish were excised from Mentone Parish to form new parishes that exist to this very day.
In 1970, the Parkdale East section of the parish, which had its own school and temporary Church, was formed into the new parish of St John Vianney, East Parkdale.
There have been four Churches that have served the people of Mentone. The first two Churches were built on the site of the present Kilbreda College. In the late 1920s, the site of the present Church and school were purchased and the third Church was built as a combined Hall/ Church within the new school complex.
With the arrival of Fr Francis O’Hanlon as Parish Priest in 1948, planning began for the building of the permanent Church. On Sunday, 19th May 1957, Fr O’Hanlon turned the first sod preparatory to the building of St Patrick’s Church. The Church was blessed and opened by Archbishop Simmonds on March 13th 1960 and Solemnly Consecrated by Bishop Arthur Fox on May 19th 1965.
Education has been a priority of the life of the parish. St Patrick’s School was founded with the arrival of the Brigidine Sisters in 1904. St John Vianney’s School commenced.
The Parish Priest of Mentone also has responsibility for the Parish of East Parkdale, due to a shortage of clergy. The two parishes were merged as the present Parish of Mentone-Parkdale.
Times of Celebration of Masses and Sacraments
Weekend Mass Times
Saturday 6.00pm: St Patrick’s Church, Mentone
Sunday 9.00am: St John Vianney’s Church, Parkdale 9.30am: Ordinariate Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Mentone 11.00am: St Patrick’s Church, Mentone 5.00pm: St Patrick’s Church, Mentone
Weekday Masses
Tuesday to Saturday: 9.15am daily at St Patrick’s Church Mentone
Sacrament of Penance (Confessions)
Wednesday 9.45am: St Patrick’s Mentone
Saturday 9.45am: St Patrick’s Mentone 5.15pm: St Patrick’s Mentone
Weekend Mass Times
Saturday 6.00pm: St Patrick’s Church, Mentone
Sunday 9.00am: St John Vianney’s Church, Parkdale 9.30am: Ordinariate Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Mentone 11.00am: St Patrick’s Church, Mentone 5.00pm: St Patrick’s Church, Mentone
Weekday Masses
Tuesday to Saturday: 9.15am daily at St Patrick’s Church Mentone
Sacrament of Penance (Confessions)
Wednesday 9.45am: St Patrick’s Mentone
Saturday 9.45am: St Patrick’s Mentone 5.15pm: St Patrick’s Mentone
Baptism
Baptisms are celebrated on the First and Third Sunday of each month at 12.15pm. Arranged by prior notice with parish.
Marriages
Marriages are celebrated by arrangement with the Parish Priest. Usually six months notice is required prior to the marriage so that all preparation can be fruitfully carried out.
For more details, please visit our website at: www.sspjv.org
Sacramental Life and Programme
Baptism
The life of grace and membership of the Catholic Church is received in the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism. Infants are baptised where there is a well-founded hope that the children will be brought up in the practice of the Catholic Faith. Parents who wish their children to be baptised need to contact the parish and undergo some formation to assist them in carrying out the responsibilities they assume at Baptism.
Blessed Eucharist
The practice of the parish is for children who are in Year 3 at our two schools to be prepared to receive the Lord in their First Holy Communion. The Parish Priest and the parents make the decision about children being admitted to First Holy Communion. It is required that an enrolment card be presented to the Parish Priest and signed at the Commitment Mass in the year the children will make Holy Communion. Children who do not attend our schools or who for one or another reason have not been ready or able to receive First Holy Communion in Year 3 are able to participate in classes of preparation on Sunday Mornings. Parish catechists under the care and supervision of the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres conduct these classes.
Penance
The Sacrament of Penance is celebrated before the reception of First Holy Communion. Children are prepared in class during Year 2 or at catechetic classes on Sunday mornings. The Sacrament is celebrated on three occasions during each week and more frequently in the days leading up to the great Feasts of the Church.
Confirmation
According to Archdiocesan Policy, the candidates for Confirmation receive this Sacrament when they are in Year 6 or above. The Sacrament which completes the grace of Baptism and strengthens the Christian in their life of faith is celebrated where the candidate is disposed and ready to deepen their Catholic faith.
Holy Matrimony
The Sacrament of Marriage is the Sacrament that unites a man and women in Christ as they form a community of life and love. The “form of marriage” binds Catholics. This means that a Catholic to be validly married in the eyes of Christ and His Church must marry in a Catholic Ceremony before a Catholic Priest and two witnesses. To celebrate this wonderful sacrament, the man and woman wishing to celebrate must be free to marry, that means unmarried or declared free to marry by the Church. They must have the intention to form a permanent, faithful and exclusive relationship with their spouse in a relationship which is open to the gift of children.